She drew nearer to the girl, and was about to lay one white jeweled hand on her arm, but Pauline drew back with a haughty gesture there was no mistaking.
"Pray understand me, Lady Darrell," she said—"all arts and persuasions are, as you know, lost on me. I decline to do anything toward entertaining your visitor, and shall avoid him as much as possible."
Lady Darrell looked up, her face pale, and with a frightened look upon it.
"Why do you speak so, Pauline? You must have some reason for it. Tell me what it is."
No one had ever heard Lady Darrell speak so earnestly before.
"Tell me!" she repeated, and her very heart was in the words.
"Pardon me if I keep my counsel," said Pauline. "There is wisdom in few words."
Then Miss Hastings, always anxious to make peace, said:
"Do not be anxious, Lady Darrell; Pauline knows that some of the unpleasantness she had with Sir Oswald was owing to Captain Langton. Perhaps that fact may affect her view of his character."
Lady Darrell discreetly retired from the contest.